Hold onto your hats! 🧢 Massive sandstorms have hit the Chinese mainland's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, prompting authorities to issue a yellow alert on Wednesday.
The National Meteorological Center (NMC) advises everyone in the affected areas to stay indoors, shut windows, and steer clear of billboards and trees due to heavy winds and dust. 🌬️🌪️
And it's not just Inner Mongolia! Due to cold air and strong winds, sandy and dusty weather is expected to sweep across the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and regions in northwestern, northern, and northeastern China. 🌍
Why all the sand? 🤔
Meteorological expert Zhang Bihui sheds some light on the situation:
\"The temperature has increased in the northern regions of China and the main sand source areas in southern Mongolia, with highs exceeding 18 degrees Celsius. That's 2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than the same period last year. Plus, there's been less precipitation,\" explained Zhang, director of the environmental meteorology office at the NMC.
\"The rising temperature and decreased precipitation have led to a significant reduction in snow cover compared to February. This bare ground provides ideal conditions for sand and dust to be lifted by the wind,\" Zhang added.
Stay safe! 🚨
If you're in the affected regions, make sure to take precautions. Close those windows, minimize outdoor activities, and keep an eye on updates from local authorities. Let's weather this sandy storm together! 💪🏽
Reference(s):
Sandstorms hit N China's Inner Mongolia, yellow alert issued
cgtn.com
